Referee appointments: Wayne Barnes and Matthew Carley in action

Wayne Barnes returns to Aviva Premiership Rugby action on Friday night when Exeter Chiefs look to steal a march on fourth-place Leicester Tigers away to Sale Sharks at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Gloucestershire’s Barnes was the man in the middle as world No. 1 side New Zealand narrowly beat France 24-19 at the Stade de France last weekend, but now he turns his attention to England’s top flight.

The experienced Greg Garner takes charge of a marquee clash between third-place Bath Rugby and table-toppers Saracens – with just three losses between them this season, it is likely to be a tense affair.

Matthew Carley is also back from Test action, having overseen Scotland’s 43-16 win over Georgia in Kilmarnock last weekend, when he takes charge of Gloucester Rugby against Bristol Rugby at Kingsholm.

And Carley will likely be dealing with Cherry and Whites club captain Greig Laidlaw, who also skippers the Scottish Test side.

Elsewhere JP Doyle takes charge of the East Midlands Derby between Leicester Tigers and Northampton Saints, Craig Maxwell-Keys heads up Wasps trip to Worcester Warriors and Ian Tempest is refereeing between Newcastle falcons and Harlequins.